Hype, a YouTube feature that helps smaller channels break through to wider audiences, uses a point system that lets fans help emerging creators get onto a new ranked leaderboard. Launched as a test last year, Hype is now live in 39 countries, including the U.S., UK, Japan and India. Viewers can take advantage of a free opportunity to “hype” up to three long-form videos per week for creators with from 500 to 500,000 subscribers. Videos receive points for being hyped, with “bonus points” awarded on a sliding scale that benefits smaller creators. Only videos uploaded within the last 7 days are eligible.

A “Hype” button will appear below the “Like’ button on qualifying clips. Hyped content will receive a badge, as will those bestowing the honor. When hyped videos get close to hitting the leaderboard, supporters will be notified for a chance to help put it over the edge.

“Users can also filter their Home feed on YouTube to see only videos in the new ‘hyped’ category,” reports TechCrunch.

TechCrunch says YouTube introduced Hype because it found that “passionate fans wanted to be a part of a creator’s success story,” but the plan is it will also generate revenue. Viewers receive a weekly allocation of Hype points but can purchase more if they want to go beyond the three weekly freebies. Users can choose to hype the same video three times or hype different videos, YouTube explains in a support post.

Creators will be able to watch their Hype counts grow using the YouTube Studio mobile app. The video analytics dashboard boasts “a new hype card “and recaps in weekly data stories, according to a YouTube blog post.

YouTube says “the hype is building,” with leaderboards coming “for specific interests like gaming and style,” and a way to easily “share that you just hyped a video to cast an even bigger spotlight.”

Tubefilter predicts “stiff competition for the 100 spots on the leaderboard,” adding that the feature is a YouTube vote of confidence as to “the growing importance of so-called ‘micro-influencers,’ who are able to haul in marketing dollars even though they lack substantial subscriber counts.”

YouTube began its Hype rollout in November 2024, gradually adding territories, with its current addition of 17 markets “the most significant increase in access yet,” according to Social Media Today.

YouTube is also expanding the AI-generated video overviews it began using in 2023 on select English-language videos worldwide, Social Media Today notes, adding that the platform is also offering new video templates for its YouTube Create video editing app to “help creators get started on their video projects.”